Door latch



A. P. MIKKELSEN 2,469,201

' DOOR LATCH May 3, 1949.

Filed Nov. 9, 1946 INVENTOR. ANDERS P MIKKELSEN aid BY 52 301; 14 A 'r I" I.

Patented May 3, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR LATCH Anders P. Mikkelsen, Pleasantville, N. Y.

Application November 9, 1946, Serial No. 708,952

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a latching device for doors and particularly to French doors or Windows and like hinged closures.

The usual hinged doors or Windows, such as French doors, are latched by bolting one of the doors to the top and bottom sills of the door casing and latching the other door to the bolted door.

This invention has for its salient object to provide a door or window latch, particularly for French doors or windows, so constructed and arranged that when one of the pair of doors or windows is closed against the other or complementary door, the other will be automatically latched to the door sill or sills. Moreover, the latch is constructed and arranged so that when the last door closed is opened, the other door section will be unlatched.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. l is a plan view, partly in section, of a pair of French doors or windows with the doors in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing one of the doors swung open;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the latching mechanism in latching position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the door having the latching mechanism in position to open after the adjacent or complementary door has'been opened;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of one edge of the door and the latching mechanism mounted therein;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing a corner of the door with the latching mechanism mounted therein and disposed in latching position; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing four balls instead of three incorporated in the latching mechanism.

In the particular form of the invention illustrated in the drawings there is shown a pair of hinged doors or door sections and H mounted in a door casing 12 having an upper sill l3 and a lower sill M. The door sections are hinged at their outer edges, as shown at l and I6, and the section It is provided with a latch l1 adapted to engage a complementary latching member on the door section l0 and to latch the two sections together in closed position.

The door section II has mounted in the upper and lower inner corners thereof, latching mechanism embodying the invention. From the form of the invention shown, this latching mechanism comprises a casing having plates 25] and 2| disposed at right angles to each other and connected by an arcuate tube 22 open at its ends, as shown at 23 and 24. The open ends of the tubes are mounted in openings 25 and 2% formed in the plates 20 and 2|.

The open ends 23 and 24 of the tube are slightly reduced in diameter and in each tube there are mounted a plurality of balls 39 having a diameter such that the balls can move freely in the tube 22 and. can project partially through the openings 23 and 24 but cannot pass through these openings. In Fig. 6 three balls 30 are illustrated and in Fig. '7 four balls are shown. The number of balls is not material but there should preferably be provided three or more.

As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, the upper and lower sills 3 and 14 have formed therein arcuate recesses or seats 3| and 32 adapted to receive the end ball at the upper and lower corners of the door section I I.

When the door section I0 is closed on the door section II, the inner edge 33 of the door section ID will engage the balls 38A and 30B, thus forcing these balls into the tube 22 and forcing the balls 30C and 30D at the other ends of the tubes partially through the other ends of the tubes and into the depressions 3! and 32 in the upper sill l3 and the lower sill I 4.

As long as the door section it is closed, the balls will be held in this position. However, when this section of the door is opened, the section I I can be opened and the balls will be forced through the ends of the tube disposed in the edge 35 of the door section l I.

From the foregoing specification it will be seen that the usual operation of bolting the door section II to the upper and lower door sills is unnecessary with the door latch described and claimed since the closing of the door section II) after the door section II has been closed will automatically latch the door section I l by forcing the balls in the tube and forcing the end balls 30C and 30D into the seats 31 and 32. It will be clear, moreover, that the latching mechanism described is equally well adapted to doors and windows.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the arrangement and in the construction of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a latch for a door or window casing, having a pair of hinged closure members adapted to swing to closed position with their inner edges adjacent and in close proximity to each other, said latch-rdeyice-comprising a :tube: mounted a COIIIBIBOfi oneidoor andl l'iavings one: end opening through the bottom of the corner and another end Opening through the inner edge of the door: adjacent the inner edge of the adjacent (10013. .a. plurality of balls in said tube, slightly greater said latch device comprising an arcuate tube mounted in a corner of one door and having one end opening through the bottom of the corner and another end opening through the inner edge of the door adjacent the inner edge of the adjacent door, a plurality of balls in the tube, said balls being so dimensioned and of such number that when one end ball is pushed substantially fiushlrwith one-lend of the: tubathe inner end of; the adjacent door thelbailllfiti ilhel other end will project partially through the other end of the tube, and a seat for receiving a portion of the. ball so pushed out of the end of the tube.

5; In a latch for a door or window casing havdiameter than the diameters ofs-thei openingsmiuqgdnga paimof hinged closure members adapted to the ends of the tube, said balls being so dimensioned that when one endballin 'the tube -is pushed in substantially flush with the end of the tube at which the said ball is positioned by the inner edge, of the adjacent door, the ball at. the other. end will. be partially pushed 'outof the. tube,.and a seat for receiving .a portion of the. baltisopushed out of the endvof. the. tube..

2..In a.latch.1for. a door. or window casing having a pairlof hinged, closure members. adapted to. swing to closed position .withtheininner. edges. adjacent land, in.close .pmximityto. eachlothen... said latch device comprising a tube mountednin; a corner of. one door. and having. one end. openingthroughjtheend of the. corner. 'andt'another. end .opening...through the. inneredge of. the door. adjiacenttheinner edge of the-adjacent door., ,.a. plurality.. of. balls insaidl-tubaslightly greaterim diameter than-the. diameters. of the. openings. at; theend'sL of. the .tube,:. said balls. being =so,.dimen.-.-- sinned: .that .when .onesend. ball. inv the -tube; is.. pushedein substantially flush withthe end of .the. tube at which the said baILispositioned. biz-theinner edge oi theadjacentdoonthe (ballet-the other. end will be-partiallypushed .outot .the tube, and .a seat for receiving. a. .portionotthe ball; so pushedout of. the end-of the tube.

3. In a latch for a door orwindow casin k-hay-- inga pair-of hinged closure members adapteds to swing .to...closedt.positionwiththeir inner edges. adjacent. and in close proximity ;.toeach. othen; sa-id..-latch.. device. comprising--acurved; tube mounted in a corner of one:door=and having one. end (opening through the. bottom of "the: rcornen and another end opening. through theinnenedge; of the door adjacent the inner .edgewf-theade jacent. door, a .-.pluralityof, balls- -in said :tube, slightly-greater in diameter than: the diameters-- of .theopeni-n-gs. at the. ends of the-tube; said balls being; so dimensioned rthat when one: end. bal-l. in the tube is pushed lin substantially flush;- with the end of the tube at whichthe said ball; is positioned by .the inner edge. of: the adjacent door, thev ball at-the: other end. will-bewpartiallyrpushed out. of theltube, anda, seat'for receiving.- aportion .01: thebalt sci-pushed outwofatheuendi of: the .tube.

In alatch for-a door or window casinig have: ing a pair ofthingedclosure-members; adapted toaswing to .closed-- position with; theirfi inner: ledges; adjacent and min close proximityv .to eachtotheml swing to. closed position with their inner edges adjacent and 'in clo'se proximity to each other, saidalatch-ldevice comprising a tube mounted in a corner of one door and having one end openins. throughthe bottom of. the corner. and .another end. opening throughlthe inner. ed e of. the door adjacent the inner.edge. oil;the-adiacent doorland a. plurality of balls inLsaid tube havin diameters. the sum of. which exceeds. the length. oi the. tube. and. the. end balls; in the. tube having diameters, greater. than. .the .rdiameters ,of. the. L openings at the ends of the tube whereby the. movement. of. .one :end. ball. inwardly of. the .tube by. the inner. edge otthe adjacent door. wili'parr tiallv -pushputwardly the. end ball at the .onpQ-w site end-of. the. tube,- and aseatior receivingsaid lastnamed ballz.

6.;.In1,.a.latch..for..a door orxlwindow casing. haazingapair of hingedcmsuremembers adaptedto, swing to clo'sedposition with. their. inner edges. adjacent. andin. close. proximity. ,to. each. others said latch device comprisingv al-tube. mountedin. acorner oionedoorand. having. one endopening through the. bottom 1 of. the. corner. and anotherend-bpening through. the. inner edge, oi the. doom adjacent the inner edgeqotthe; adjacent. door, faceplatesconnected.to theendsof the, tube and arranged .at, an. angle; toaeach other, a. plurality of balls in said tube slightly greatenin diameter. thanthe diameter of:the..openings at. the ends of the tube, said ballsbeing so'dimensionedthat. whenlone. end ball .intthe. tube. :is ..pushed in substantially flush with said. end. oi the tubeby. the inner edge of the adjacent door=the ballat: the-- other..endi..will bewpartially pushed out ;.0f.the tube, and a :seat. for receivin a portion of the ball; pushed. outof the. end ofthe. tube..-

ANDERS-R. MIKKELSEN;

REFERENCES J CITED: 1

The following references are of record-.in the fi-lelaoli .a-patentr:

um'rsnqs'ra'rms PATENTS:

FOREIGN PATENTS? Number Country Date: 

